Buddhism
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions simply because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." - Siddhartha Gautama

  • 376 million followers



Origins
  1. Buddhism originates in Northern India founded by Siddhartha Gautama
  2. 563 - 460 B.C.


Beliefs1. Human nature a. dependent orginationb. Suffering is a part of lifec. Meditate to achieve Nirvana2. Karma is the sum total of an individual's actions of body, speech and mind good, bad and neutral taken in their current and previous lives.3. The 4 Noble Truths
a. Life is Suffering
b. Suffering is Caused by Desires
c. Suffering Can Be Gotten Rid of by Dwelling Only on the Present
d. The Noble Eightfold Path

Practices‍‍‍1. Meditation goal of meditation is to achieve nirvana (state of being free from suffering)2. Mantras (sacred sounds) 3.Mudras (symbolic hand gestures) 4. Prayer wheels


Buddhism sacred places
  1. Lumbini - Buddha's birth place external image lumbini.jpg
  2. Bodh Gaya - birth place of buddhism external image 220px-Mahabodhitemple.jpg
  3. Sarnath - first sermon external image buddha_deer_park.gif
  4. Kushinara - place of death external image images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSf1Ye2BH0bMxOIKcvt_lyOdu0pWGcSmjyP8hT5PJJw6e0xRDF-